208 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



eagles and Roman civilization to the ends of the world. 

 Thus originated the proverb still in use that " All roads 

 lead to Rome." Through the influence of these great ave- 

 nues of communication the constituents of the empire were 

 gradually fused into a homogeneous mass, in which the 

 soldiers of the orient and of the Occident vied tog-ether to 

 extend the military and political power of the institutions 

 of this imperial race. It has been said that the genius of a 

 people is seen in its architecture. The Parthenon illus- 

 trated the bent of the Grecian mind toward elegance and 

 beauty. The religious feeling of the middle ages expressed 

 itself in great cathedrals. The consummate flower of 

 Roman genius w^as its great military and conmiercial roads. 

 " This people," says Du})uy, "did not look upwards. Its 

 eyes and hands were fixed upon the earth. No one has 

 ever held it with a stronger grasp." 



The construction of the Roman road was marvelously 

 perfect. It would not, indeed, suit modern conditions 

 and requirements, but it was the road for armies and Avar 

 and the commerce of that day. It set a great example, and 

 taught the fundamental lessons out of which has been 

 evolved the modern road. In strength and permanence it 

 has never been surpassed, and in a few instances only has 

 the modern w^orld attempted to equal it. Its foundation 

 was deeply laid in flat stone and carefully drained ; above 

 it lay a course of rubble or coarse amalgam, next came the 

 fine concrete, while the surface was crowded wdth stone 

 blocks beautifull}^ fitted together. Thus it w^as practically 

 indestructible. The road bed was well elevated above the 

 adjacent land, was abundantly protected by stone parapets, 

 and was bordered by numerous stone riding blocks for 

 convenience of mounting by the cavalry, saddles being 

 then unknown. Each mile of the great Roman road was 

 marked to indicate its distance from the Roman Forum, 

 and often, along with these, stood elaborate monuments, 

 the gifts of great conquerors or of rich merchants and 

 nobles. It is an interesting fact that our word mile comes 

 from the Latin word meaning a thousand, a Roman mile, 

 estimated roughly, being mill la passuum, or a thousand 



